We now know why JJ Watt was seen crying when he walked off the field over the weekend. It had nothing to do with the team losing, but moreso that he knew his career was coming to an end.
Watt is playing some of his best football in recent memory, leading the Cardinals with 9.5 sacks in his 12th NFL season. He’s also playing some of his last football. Days after Arizona’s overtime loss to the Buccaneers on Christmas night, the star defensive lineman hinted on Twitter that he will retire at the end of the season.
“Koa’s first-ever NFL game. My last ever NFL home game. My heart is filled with nothing but love and gratitude. It’s been an absolute honor and a pleasure.”
As you see above, the 33-year-old shared a picture of him and his wife, Kealia, and their infant son at State Farm Stadium from Monday’s game.
The Cardinals still have two games left on their schedule, both of the road with matchups against the Falcons and 49ers. If Watt is done, he’s going out after logging his highest sack and quarterback hit totals since 2018, when he received Comeback Player of the Year votes as an All-Pro pass rusher for the Texans.
Watt, who spent the first 10 years of his career in Houston, will leave the game as one of the most dominating defensive players of his time.
